PhD Course (PRIO and the University of Oslo)

Co-organized by the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo, and the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO).

Oslo, 31 October to 3 November 2007

The application deadline for this course has passed.

Course description: Migrant remittances connect people in very different positions within the global economy. Transfers from migrants to their relatives must be understood in light of gross economic inequalities, culturally defined moralities, livelihood strategies, and close interpersonal relationships. Worldwide remittance flows to developing countries have reached twice the size of development aid, and risen on the agenda of the international community and academia. While the literature on remittances has grown tremendously, there is a sustained need for thorough, academic research in the field. What roles do remittances play in transnational relations between individuals? How are remittance implicated in livelihood strategies of senders and receivers? In what ways do remittance inflows change livelihoods in migrants’ communities of origin? How do migrants’ remittances fit within the broader framework of the economics of transnational living? These are among the questions that will be addressed in the course. The course aims to bring together PhD candidates whose research encompasses remittances and transnational livelihoods. The course will facilitate refinement and strengthening of these aspects of their research. It is held in conjunction with a conference on remittances at PRIO, which is an integral part of the programme for the participants of the PhD course. The remainder of the course consists of seven theoretical and methodological training sessions with international experts in the field, and presentations of participants’ papers with comments by appointed discussants. The course is open to PhD candidates from all social sciences. Applications are encouraged from PhD candidates who either focus on remittances in their research or incorporate attention to remittances in research on transnationalism or livelihoods.

Readings: A reading list of 500–700 pages will be set up before the course.

Paper: Participants are encouraged to write a paper within the thematic scope of the course, related to their research. The paper should be 4000–5000 words. A draft must be submitted by 15 October and final paper must be submitted by 15 November 2007.

Credits: If a paper is submitted and approved, the course will give 6 ECTS credits.

Applications: Applications must contain the following items: 1) Name; 2) Affiliation; 3) Academic discipline; 4) Provisional title or topic of PhD project; 5) Provisional title of paper to be presented at the course; 6) Provisional abstract of paper to be presented at the course (100-200 words); 7) Curriculum Vitae. Applications must be sent to Cecilie Lilleheil, Executive Officer for Research, (cecilie.lilleheil@sosiologi.uio.no) by 15 June 2007. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 1 July 2007.

Questions: Questions on the academic programme should be directed to Jørgen Carling, PRIO (jorgen@prio.no) or Kristian Stokke, University of Oslo (kristian.stokke@sgeo.uio.no). Administrative questions on admissions, etc, should be directed to Cecilie Lilleheil, University of Oslo, (cecilie.lilleheil@sosiologi.uio.no)

Admissions: There is a maximum of 10 participants at the course. Applications will be assessed on the basis of the relevance and quality of paper abstracts. The organizers aim to admit a well-balanced group of participants with different backgrounds.

Costs: There is no participation fee. Participants must cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. See www.ankerhostel.no or http://www.thonhotels.no/spectrum for low-cost accommodation close to PRIO. All lunches and one dinner are covered by the organizers. Financial support must be sought through the participants’ own institutions. Neither PRIO nor the University of Oslo can offer financial assistance to participants.

Location: Partly at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), Hausmanns gate 7, in central Oslo and partly at the University of Oslo, Blindern Campus.

Confirmed speakers: Khalid Koser (Brookings Institution), Valentina Mazzucato (University of Amsterdam), Anna Lindley (University of Oxford), Jørgen Carling (PRIO), Cindy Horst (PRIO), Kristian Stokke (University of Oslo)